sycamore Trails | johnston, Iowa

SYCAMORE TRAILS

 
 

4640 NW 66th Avenue
Johnston, IA 50131

Sycamore Trails are fast, flowing singletrack that weaves through old growth forest along the west side of the Des Moines River. The trails are generally easy riding and many adults and children frequent the trails.

The two major trail sections are bisected by Interstate 80 - Sycamore North and Sycamore South.

Typically, if someone simply refers to "Sycamore" they are meaning the north side and refer to "Sycamore South" explicitly.

WET OR MUDDY CONDITIONS

Be considerate of the trails in the low-lying areas. During the fall and spring freeze/thaw or heavy rains cause the trails to close. Signs at the trailheads will indicate whether a trail is open or closed and is regularly updated by the Trail Steward.

PARKING

  • Please park in the lot across the bridge. Do NOT park on the side of the road near the gravel lot entrance.

  • Sycamore North: Note: There are two lots to choose from. For immediate access, park in the smaller gravel lot, west of the soccer fields on your right. A larger parking lot can be found just after the bridge, west of the soccer fields. There, you can take the paved trail that crosses the bridge to the north entrance of Sycamore Trails.

  • Sycamore South: Parking is available at the Polk County Building on Euclid Ave (2353 Euclid Ave) in Des Moines.

FACILITIES & SERVICES

Restrooms are not available.

An air pump and bike maintenance tool unit is available at the Sycamore North gravel parking lot.

USE CAUTION

These trails are two-way trails that also allow hiking and other foot traffic. Please use caution and ride at your own risk.

Hunting

Anything within a city limits has no hunting allowed, anything outside of a city limits, waterfowl can be taken from the river. The areas PCC manage are game management areas so no other hunting is allowed, this eliminates hunting in all the small ponds inside of our boundaries. PCC does offer special permit hunting for deer with archery equipment only. Hunters need to follow the urban deer hunt application on their website.

Hunters can waterfowl hunt the area in between the two, and the west side of Johnson. The gunshots will be heard from sycamore in these areas. If you see any illegal hunting, please contact PCC Rangers: David Weidt: 515-249-3229 or John Mackey: 515-323-5310.

TRAIL SEGMENTS

TOP SHELF

Length: 2.7 miles
Challenge: Easy to Moderate

Top Shelf runs the western edge of the trails. It ultimately reaches Beaver Creek on the south, veers westward along Beaver Creek along the levee until it runs into the Trestle Trail. You can easily turn around at the Trestle Trail and loop back to your start via the Sycamore Trail.


SYCAMORE TRAIL NORTH

Length: 3.5 miles
Challenge: Easy to Moderate

Sycamore Trail leaves the north lot on the east side and runs closet to the Des Moines River and Beaver Creek. Two branches off Sycamore take you onto the Lake Loop and the Pump trail.


FRESH CUT

Length: 0.3 miles
Challenge: Easy

A short inner loop off Sycamore Trail North that loops in and out of the main trail in the trees.


LAKE LOOP

Length: 0.7 miles
Challenge: Easy to Moderate

The Lake Loop connects to the Sycamore Trail at Fish Camp (where Beaver Creek meets the Des Moines River) and joins Top Shelf on the northwest side of the lake. The loop runs along the levee above Sycamore Trail and then down around the lake.


PUMP TRACK LOOP

Length: 0.3 miles
Challenge: Moderate

An inner loop of pump track trails branches off Sycamore Trail just north of Fish Camp, before the big log over on the Sycamore Trail. Fast ups and downs and quick turns allows for some fun flowing extension to the main trails.


HIGH LIFE

Length: 0.2 miles
Challenge: Easy

A short inner loop off Top Shelf weaves in and out of the trees.

 

LAND MANAGER:

PROHIBITED USES

 

Photos: K&K Images | Rock Garden at South Sycamore